The former QPR manager shared his thoughts on the team’s impressive victory over Birmingham.
Former Rangers and Sunderland manager Michael Beale raised some feathers on Friday afternoon when he provided commentary on QPR’s match against Birmingham City for Sky Sports.
The 43-year-old, who took his first head coaching job at QPR in 2022, was fired by the Black Cats last month after only 12 games in charge. Beale left QPR in November 2022 to become manager of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, however he only stayed at Ibrox for a year.
On Friday, when commentating on the Championship six-pointer, Beale looked to take a dig at the Loftus Road supporters as they celebrated an injury-time Jimmy Dunne winner for three points. Beale added, “Those scenes at Loftus Road have been lacking for a long time. Congratulations to Marti Cifuentes, who made brave changes in the game to turn it around from 1-0 and deserves a slap on the back as well.”
The statement was taken up by QPR fans online, with one social media user on X responding, ‘tear more’. Another stated, “87% attendance, pretty much sold out.” “That was an awkward take.”
Meanwhile, one fan commented, “Michael Beale saying the scenes haven’t been there at Loftus Road for a long time, the support has been first-class.”
While on Sky Sports, Beale outlined the events that led to him departing Loftus Road in 2022 to join Rangers. Before leaving for Scotland, the manager promised QPR fans ‘purity and loyalty’.
He told Sky Sports: “I was really enjoying my time at QPR; it’s a terrific club. Working with Chris Ramsey and Les Ferdinand was amazing for me. There was no reason to leave. I’m a young manager; this was my first position, and we were doing well. I was enjoying my time with the players and the staff.
“I was 14 games into my tenure as manager.” The Rangers one came out of nowhere, and it was truly a heartfelt decision. My family lives in Glasgow, and I had a link with the club. It was a decision made from the heart.
“There was nothing wrong with my time at QPR, no reason to look elsewhere. I didn’t think the Rangers job would come then and it wasn’t a job I was ultimately willing to turn down.”
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